First Student school bus drivers strike outside the bus paddock at First Student in South Park on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018.

First Student school bus drivers strike outside the bus paddock at First Student in South Park on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018.

Photo: GRANT HINDSLEY, SEATTLEPI.COM

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A Norwalk Transit rider boards a Wheels bus along West Ave. Thursday, February 8, 2018, in Norwalk, Conn. Without rules in place, Norwalk city staff and elected officials are wrestling with a request from the owner of the Waypointe mid-block apartment complex to place advertising banners on city light poles along West Avenue, Merwin and Orchard streets. Restaurants and shops located in the inner courtyard/pedestrian street within Waypointe want the banners to advertise themselves. The Common Councils Public Works Committee on Tuesday evening rejecting granting the Waypointe owner an encroachment permit amid concerns about commercialization, safety, upkeep and maintenance and lack of an overall plan by the city for advertising on light poles. less

A Norwalk Transit rider boards a Wheels bus along West Ave. Thursday, February 8, 2018, in Norwalk, Conn. Without rules in place, Norwalk city staff and elected officials are wrestling with a request from the ... more

Photo: Erik Trautmann / Hearst Connecticut Media

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A Norwalk Transit rider boards a Wheels bus along West Ave. Thursday, February 8, 2018, in Norwalk, Conn. Without rules in place, Norwalk city staff and elected officials are wrestling with a request from the owner of the Waypointe midblock apartment complex to place advertising banners on city light poles along West Avenue, Merwin and Orchard streets. Restaurants and shops located in the inner courtyard/pedestrian street within Waypointe want the banners to advertise themselves. The Common Council’s Public Works Committee on Tuesday evening rejecting granting the Waypointe owner an encroachment permit amid concerns about commercialization, safety, upkeep and maintenance and lack of an overall plan by the city for advertising on light poles. less

A Norwalk Transit rider boards a Wheels bus along West Ave. Thursday, February 8, 2018, in Norwalk, Conn. Without rules in place, Norwalk city staff and elected officials are wrestling with a request from the ... more

Photo: Erik Trautmann, Hearst Connecticut Media

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First Student school bus drivers maintain a picket line throughout the day as they strike due to unfair labor practices at First Student in South Park on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018.

First Student school bus drivers maintain a picket line throughout the day as they strike due to unfair labor practices at First Student in South Park on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018.

Photo: GRANT HINDSLEY, SEATTLEPI.COM

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First Student school bus drivers strike outside the bus paddock at First Student in South Park on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018.

First Student school bus drivers strike outside the bus paddock at First Student in South Park on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018.

Photo: GRANT HINDSLEY, SEATTLEPI.COM

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First Student school bus drivers strike outside the bus paddock at First Student in South Park on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018.

First Student school bus drivers strike outside the bus paddock at First Student in South Park on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018.

Photo: GRANT HINDSLEY, SEATTLEPI.COM

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Councilwoman Kshama Sawant speaks with teamsters during a strike for unfair labor practices at First Student, in South Park on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018.

Councilwoman Kshama Sawant speaks with teamsters during a strike for unfair labor practices at First Student, in South Park on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018.

Photo: GRANT HINDSLEY, SEATTLEPI.COM

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School buses at First Student in South Park on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018.

School buses at First Student in South Park on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018.

Photo: GRANT HINDSLEY, SEATTLEPI.COM

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Signs for bus drivers rest under a tent during a First Student school bus driver strike, in South Park on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018.

Signs for bus drivers rest under a tent during a First Student school bus driver strike, in South Park on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018.

Photo: GRANT HINDSLEY, SEATTLEPI.COM

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First Student school bus drivers maintain a picket line at the gate to the bus paddock at First Student in South Park on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018.

First Student school bus drivers maintain a picket line at the gate to the bus paddock at First Student in South Park on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018.

Photo: GRANT HINDSLEY, SEATTLEPI.COM

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First Student school bus drivers hold signs on a corner near the bus paddock at First Student in South Park on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018.

First Student school bus drivers hold signs on a corner near the bus paddock at First Student in South Park on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018.

Photo: GRANT HINDSLEY, SEATTLEPI.COM

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Seattle bus drivers vote to end weeklong strike

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SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle school bus drivers are going back to work following a weeklong strike.

Teamsters Local 174, which represents the 400 drivers, says they voted Saturday to accept a new contract. They return to work Monday.

The Seattle Times reports that the agreement with the bus company First Student includes expanded benefits and comprehensive health-care coverage for drivers and their families. Labor officials said the contract also provides drivers with a Teamster pension plan, which they characterized as the first for contracted school-bus drivers in Seattle.

The union went on a one-day strike in November. Contract talks then continued through the end of January, when the drivers declared a strike.

The drivers told of having to declare bankruptcy or live paycheck to paycheck, either because their health-care plan was unaffordable or because they couldn't get enough hours to be considered full-time.

Bus drivers are paid between $18 and $25 an hour, and those who work at least 30 hours a week are eligible for health-care benefits.